Table of Contents
Melchizedek And Hosanna
Most people think of Hosanna as “praise to God,” but this is NOT the original meaning! The word “Hosanna” quite literally means “Save Us Please!”
This is just the beginning! We have so much digging to do! So, let’s get started, shall we?
The following section is copied from Abarim Publications:
The word Hosanna: Summary
Meaning: Save (Us) Please!
Etymology: From (1) the verb ישע (yasha’), to save, and (2) נא (na’), please.
Related names:
• Via ישע (yasha’): Abishua, Bar-Jesus, Bath-shua, Chemosh, Elisha, Elishah, Elishua, Hosea, Hoshaiah, Isaiah, Ishi, Jason, Jeshua, Jesus, Joshua, Malchi-shua, Mesha, Shuah
• Via נא (na’): Hashabnah, Hashabneiah, Shebna(h)
The phrase Hosanna
Originally, Hosanna is not, as is commonly believed, an exclamation of exuberance. It doesn’t mean YOO-HOO!!
Etymology and Meaning of Hosanna
The word Hosanna consists of two elements. The first part of Hosanna comes from the interesting word group that starts with the familiar Hebrew verb ישע (yasha’), meaning to be saved or delivered:
Excerpted from: Abarim Publications’ Biblical Dictionary
שוע ישע
The verb ישע (yasha’) means to be unrestricted and thus to be free and thus to be saved (from restriction, from oppression and thus from ultimate demise). A doer of this verb is a savior. Nouns ישועה (yeshua), ישע (yesha’) and תשועה (teshua) mean salvation. Adjective שוע (shoa’) means (financially) independent, freed in an economic sense.
Verb שוע (shawa’) means to cry out (for salvation). Nouns שוע (shua’), שוע (shoa’) and שועה (shawa) mean a cry (for salvation).
The noun תשע (tesha’), nine, looks like תושע (tohasha’), he or it will cause to save: the third person masculine singular Hiphil of the verb ישע (yasha’), to save. See our article on the Greek word for nine, εννεα (ennea).
— See the full Dictionary article —
Hosanna is formed from the imperative (that means it’s a command) of the verb ישע, meaning to save. This part of the word Hosanna means Save! or Bring About Salvation!
The final part of the word Hosanna is the Hebrew word נא (na’), the common particle of entreaty: please!
Excerpted from: Abarim Publications’ Biblical Dictionary
נא
The particle נא (na’) is the Bible’s common particle of entreaty and means please!. It shows up incorporated in various standard phrases: אמרי־נא (amari-na’), speak please; שא־נא (sa’na’), look out please; השמרי־נא (hashmari-na), watch out please, and of course the familiar הושיעה נא (hoshi’a na), save please.
A similar נה (na) added to a verbal stem results in a feminine plural imperative (and a family or company is feminine).
— See the full Dictionary article —
The phrase הושיעה נא (hoshi’a na) occurs in Psalm 118:25 and actually comes with a kind of double entreaty. Following the verb ישע and the particle נא, comes the rarer and even more reflective of desperation אנא, which is a contraction of אה־נא (ah-na), usually translated with something like “Ah, now! I (we) beseech thee!”
In Christian circles, Psalm 118 quickly became one of the most popular of all. “He has become my salvation” (118:14) almost perfectly contains the name Jesus. The references to God’s right hand (118:15-16) return in Matthew 26:64 and Mark 16:19. The stone which the builders rejected (118:22) is applied to Christ by Peter (Acts 4:11 and 1 Peter 2:7). “This is the day that the Lord has made” (118:24) became its own evergreen song in our times. And the Hebrew phrase hoshi’a na of 118:25 became the Hosanna with which the people of Jerusalem greeted Christ during his triumphal entry through “the gates of righteousness; the gate of the Lord” (Psalm 118:19-20).
All four gospels cover the triumphal entry but Luke (Luke 19:28-44) never uses the word Hosanna. Why that is we don’t know. Matthew uses it in 21:9 and 21:15. Mark uses it in 11:9-10 and John uses it in 12:13. By the time of the triumphant entree, Hosanna had curiously evolved from expression of deep anguish to a kind of cheer. The seventh day of Sukkoth — the Feasts of Booths — was known as Hosanna Rabbah, or Great Hosanna.
By applying the word Hosanna to Jesus Christ, the celebrators of Jerusalem were (a) equating him with the God to whom the Psalmist’s original hoshi’a na was directed, and (b) indicating that Jesus personified the completion of the Feast Of Booths (although note that despite the palm branches, the actual Feast Of Booths was celebrated in the autumn, whereas the entry occurred just prior to Passover, in the spring).
The expression Hosanna means Save Us Please! It occurs 6 times in the New Testament; see full New Testament concordance.
(End Section)
I don’t know how closely you paid attention to that! Perhaps you almost fell asleep! Well, I will refer back to that section elsewhere in this article!
By the way, isn’t Jesus Christ our Melchizedek High Priest?
"1 For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:
2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.
4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.
6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."
Hebrews 5:1-14 KJV
Yes, we can say that Jesus Christ is our Melchizedek High Priest! And has Jesus called us to be “kings and priests” in that same “order”?
"1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy."
1 Peter 2:1-10 KJV
Again, a resounding “Yes!”
What Are We Saying When We Say “Hosanna”?
So, if a person understands the Melchizedek Message, what are they saying when they say or sing “Hosanna?” They are saying, in plain English, “Jesus, my Melchizedek High Priest, please save me from my sins!” Do you think this request is “according to God’s will?” Do you believe God’s answer will be “yes?” (See John 14 and Matthew 1:21) Of course, God will answer “yes!”
Just one more point! Remember this quote from the initial section?
“By applying the word Hosanna to Jesus Christ, the celebrators of Jerusalem were (a) equating him with the God to whom the Psalmist’s original hoshi’a na was directed, and (b) indicating that Jesus personified the completion of the Feast Of Booths (although note that despite the palm branches, the actual Feast Of Booths was celebrated in the autumn, whereas the entry occurred just prior to Passover, in the spring).”
A Formal Invitation!
This was the Jews’ formal invitation to Jesus Christ to die as their Substitute for their sins! I wonder how many of them realized what they were doing. I know that I’ve heard a LOT of songs sung in SDA churches that contain the word “Hosanna!” Perhaps the next time you sing one of them, you will stop and think about what you’re saying.
There is a trend among SDAs to discount and undermine the following promises:
"13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV
"1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."
2 Peter 1:1-4 KJV
Does God Ask Us To Do The Impossible?
Does God ask us to do the impossible? Will God fail to back up these promises? If you think so, then please read your homework assignment! Read the book Steps To Christ, which has only 13 short chapters! And read Desire Of Ages, Chapter One!
God Gave Me A Bible Study!
By the way, in 1983, God gave me a personal Bible Study directly between the two of us! It lasted for three and a half hours! And it was all about this very issue! Righteousness By Faith (or RBF) is one of the most viciously attacked subjects by Satan! Don’t believe me? Read The Great Controversy and see how many times you can identify RBF on each page! (Hint: It is on nearly every page for the first 14 chapters!)
One thing is for sure: God would not have arranged things so that the word “Hosanna” would have such a significant meaning if He had planned on NOT fulfilling His Word! And He would not have intimately tied that word “Hosanna” to the Melchizedek Message by a tie that cannot be broken!
Yes, I know what I’m saying, and my toes are all broken, too! But my dear brothers and sisters, we must start living up to our high calling as sons and daughters of the King! The King is Coming! Let’s get ready to meet Him!
Father, we ask you to forgive our sins and help us prepare to meet you soon! And we ask that you give us the Latter Rain to warn the rest of the world with the 3 Angels’ Messages! We know that this is according to Your will!
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
John 14:12-14 KJV
We ask that you fulfill this request as promised in the above Bible reference! In Jesus’ Name, Amen!
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